Sonoma Coast Divers

Monterey Fun Dive
January 28 and 29, 2012

Basics

Remember to Sign Up!

Prior to heading down to Monterey, please make sure you have signed up and paid for ($25/person/day) the Fun Dive through Sonoma Coast Divers (not the Monterey Bamboo Reef).  Sorry, no walk-ins.  If you are not on the sign-up list, you won't be diving with us.

Details

We'll be meeting at the Bamboo Reef shop in Monterey to take care of any necessary paperwork and discuss where we'll be diving.  Please be on time.  I'll be the tall guy with the faded orange ball cap.  Note that our Fun Dive is NOT a Monterey Bamboo Reef event, so if you ask them about the Fun Dive, they'll likely not know what you're talking about.  We like using Bamboo Reef as a meeting place because the parking is ample and they have any gear you may need to buy or rent.

The dives will be shore dives, but the exact locations will depend on ocean conditions and experience levels of everyone on the dive.  Expect water temperatures to be in the low 50's F (around 12 C).

Please bring everything you'll need for doing two dives.  That includes weights and two full tanks.  If you are renting gear, make sure you have everything and that everything works BEFORE arriving in Monterey.  Make sure your tanks - rented or your own - are in compliance (annual visual inspection and 5-year hydro) so you can get them refilled as needed; you can purchase refills at the Monterey Bamboo Reef.  If you're thinking of doing the night dive, please remember to bring two diving lights (with fresh batteries). Oh, and don't forget your C-Card!

Depending on where we end up diving, you may need to pay for parking.  Some areas have coin-eating parking meters, other areas require purchasing a parking permit (with a credit card or real money), and still other areas have meters that can utilize credit cards.  So be prepared and bring some quarters if we end up in an area with those types of meters.  Though most of Monterey is pretty safe, it's probably a good idea to have a way to lock your gear in your vehicle unless you have that gear with you on the beach.  For planning the rest of your day, we'll probably be finished with our diving at around 2:00 pm... maybe a little before or a little after.

NIGHT DIVE: For those who just can't get enough, we'll be doing an optional (and free) night dive Saturday night (if conditions permit).  Meet at 4:00 pm near the picnic tables at San Carlos Beach near the Breakwater (commonly called the Breakwater Beach), which is about 200 feet NNE of right here.  (Best to scope out the location sometime during the day.)  Bring two diving lights, both with fresh batteries.  If you haven't been night diving before, I'll give a little introduction on just how to do it.  It's easy and loads of fun!

Lodging

Lodging in Monterey can be a bit pricey, but there are a few places that are reasonably priced and even one that caters to divers.  I suggest using something like Kayak to search for good deals.  Two of my favorites are:

Directions

To get to Monterey Bamboo Reef shop from the North Bay, go south to San Jose through either the East Bay or the Peninsula.  From San Jose, take Hwy 101 South to Hwy 156 West to Hwy 1 South.  When you get to Monterey, take the Del Monte exit to Monterey/Pacific Grove (it should be Exit 402B, not the Seaside Del Monte exit).  Follow Del Monte toward downtown Monterey (west) until you get to Lighthouse Avenue, where you'll bear right and go through a short tunnel.  Stay on Lighthouse until you get to the shop, which will be on your right.  If in doubt, use Google Maps.  From the Petaluma area, it takes between 2.5 and 3 hours to drive to Monterey (depending on traffic and your willingness to drive a bit over the speed limit).